Can dry wicker garden furniture be restored? - The Backyard Professionals (2023)

Wicker garden furniture is much more brittle than other materials and therefore more susceptible to damage from the elements. Sure, rain can cause furniture to rot and fall apart, but wind and sun can be just as damaging. Wicker can easily dry out when exposed to a lot of strong sunlight and high winds. When the material loses moisture it becomes brittle, cracks and chips.

Many people throw away their patio furniture and replace it when this happens, but what if you could restore it? This article tells you everything you need to know to restore your dried-out wicker patio furniture and how to protect it for the future.

Is dry wicker furniture salvageable?

Yes, you can restore dry wicker furniture as long as it is not too damaged.If you take action when you first notice it starting to crack and split, you can rehydrate the wicker. Once it has retained more moisture and is no longer brittle, you can repair it and then protect it against the elements so this doesn't happen again.

This involves first rehydrating the wicker and cleaning it with a mild solution of soap and water. Once it has dried you can mend any broken strands before painting/dying to protect it. Let's take a closer look at each step.

How to properly restore dry wicker garden furniture (step by step)

1. Clean the furniture

Start by cleaning your wicker furniture to remove dust, dirt, and grime. Take a vacuum cleaner and suck up any loose dust and dirt, making sure to get into any small crevices. Use a bristle attachment to get into the spaces between the strands to remove as much loose dust as possible.

Next, clean the furniture with a light cleaning solution. A few drops of regular dish soap mixed with a little warm water works great. You can also use a homemade white vinegar and ammonia cleaner. Alternatively, you can use a wicker cleaner spray, but if you're trying to rehydrate dry wicker, it's best to use more water. As such, homemade cleaning products are usually the best. More details on cleaning wicker garden furniture can be found in our guide here. [link to another article].

Take a clean cloth and wipe down all the furniture. You generally have to be careful about how much water you put on the wicker because you don't want it to develop mold and mildew. But when it's dry, you'll want the braid to get more moist.

When you have cleaned everything, take a bucket of fresh water and a clean rag. Rinse the furniture to remove excess soap stains and to moisturize the wicker.

2. Let it dry

When the furniture is completely clean, you should allow it to dry properly before proceeding to the next step. Ideally, you should restore your furniture in summer on a warm but not too hot day. Let furniture air dry for 48 hours.

If for some reason you're going to be doing this in the winter, or just having no luck with the weather, you may need to dry it indoors. In this case, ventilation is important because you don't want mold and mildew to develop in the damp basket. Open the windows if you can, and consider using a dehumidifier to speed up the drying process.

3. Rehydrate the wicker with oil

Oil is a great way to rehydrate wicker and prevent it from breaking. It also gives a nice shine and also adds protection against humidity. Linseed oil is a good option, but you can also use lemon oil or a good quality furniture polish. You can even use olive oil in a pinch if you want to use something you already have at home. As long as it's a good quality oil suitable for use on wood, you should be fine.

To apply, take a microfiber cloth and dab some oil on it. Rub in circles, place on basket weave, then wipe off excess. Dry times will vary depending on the type of oil used. Flaxseed oil takes much longer than, for example, lemon or orange oil.

Once it's dry, take a look at the furniture and see if it's still dry. If it's been neglected for a while, you may need two or three coats to bring it back to life. Just repeat the same process, apply the oil and let it dry until you are happy with the results.

4. Repair broken or damaged strands

You may have broken or damaged braid strands if the furniture has been left to dry for a long time. In most cases these can be fixed, but remember that if everything is covered in large holes, it may be time to replace them.

To fix your wicker furniture, you need to remove the broken strands, and then weave new ones in their place. Make sure you know what material the wicker is made of (plastic, rattan, bamboo) and get as close to a match as possible. If you contact the manufacturer, they may sell replacement threads. If not, go to a wicker furniture specialist and see what they have.

CanWatch a tutorial on how to weave the willow strands on YouTube here. It's relatively easy once you get the hang of the technique, and you can even repair large holes in furniture. Be sure to replace threads that are breaking, as well as those that are completely broken.

5. Replace the feet

The legs of your garden furniture will get scratched when you move them. As you restore it, be sure to take the time to change the feet. Most furniture has simple screw-in legs, in which case just buy another set and swap them out. When shopping for new ones, keep in mind that they are often referred to as sliders or foot protectors, depending on the retailer.

If you have wicker garden furniture with metal legs, you will need sliders or protectors that slide across the floor. Please check the size before purchasing to ensure a perfect fit. It's worth buying a few sets so you'll have spares when you need them.

6. Paint wicker (optional)

Now that the furniture is cleaned, rehydrated, and repaired, consider future-proofing it. Paint is a great option here and can also give your furniture a whole new look.

Before painting, you should apply a coat of quality wood primer. This will prevent the paint from absorbing too much and provide a good surface for the paint to adhere to. Wicker is a difficult material to paint as there are many small gaps and hard-to-reach places. Priming first makes the job easier and gives a better finish. Ideally, apply your primer and color with a sprayer to give even coverage and get into all the small crevices.

Once the primer has dried you can paint. Oil-based paints work well on wicker furniture because they don't chip easily and are long-lasting. Be sure to use an oil-based paint that is suitable for outdoor use. Alternatively, you can use a can of latex spray paint. Check again if it is designed for outdoor projects.

Apply thin coats of paint and move back and forth across the furniture fairly quickly to avoid drips. You need two or three coats to get a good finish.

7. Flechtweide (optional)

You can stain the wicker instead of painting it if you want a natural wood finish. Again, you need to spray the stain to get an even finish. Oil-based stains work well on willow, but you can also use fabric dye mixed with water (at a ratio of ½ cup paint to 2 cups water). Using fabric paint gives you a wider range of colors without painting, so you can still see some of the effect of the wood.

Stains and thinned fabric paint are very thin, so you can apply them with a spray gun. However, you can use a brush if you prefer. Just make sure you work it well in any space. Work from the top down, wiping up any drips. Let the stain sit for about 10 minutes (although this varies by stain, so check the guidelines), then wipe off any excess.

8. Seal Furniture (Mandatory)

Sealing your furniture after painting or staining protects it from the elements and keeps it in good condition longer. A polyurethane clear coat is the best way to seal your paint or stain to prevent cracking and peeling and to protect against moisture and UV rays. HeMinwax Timonel Spar Urethan-Sprayexcellent as it goes on easily and is beautiful and durable.

You can read more about itPaint, stain and seal your wicker furniture right here in this post.

How do you know when wicker furniture is irreparable?

It can be difficult to know when furniture needs to be restored and when it needs to be replaced. If the furniture has dried out with some broken strands, you can repair it by following the steps outlined above. However, there are times when it is not worth it.

If there are more broken threads than good ones and the entire piece of furniture is riddled with holes, it may not be possible to repair it. To fix it, most of the braid would have to be removed, leaving just the frame. At this point, you're basically knitting everything from scratch, so consider just replacing it.

Furniture riddled with rot is also irreparable. Some surface mold can be removed. But if it's been left there too long and is deeply seated, you may not be able to repair it.

In general, consider how much time and money it will take to repair the furniture and whether the end result will be worth it.

Should You Protect Wicker Patio Furniture From The Rain?

Yes absolutely. When wicker patio furniture gets wet, mold and mildew grow on the surface and eventually penetrate the wicker. As soon as it starts to rot, it does a lot of damage. Ideally, you should protect it from the rain inside, but if that's not an option, you can buy slipcovers that fit over the furniture and keep the rain out.

Should You Protect Wicker Patio Furniture From The Sun?

Yes, the sun can be just as damaging as the rain. If wicker is constantly exposed to direct sunlight, it will dry out and become brittle. If you leave the furniture exposed, it will dry out much faster and you will have to restore it more often. Placing a cover over it will protect it and prevent it from cracking and splitting.

Should you store wicker garden furniture for the winter?

Yes, winter weather takes its toll on your wicker furniture. Rain causes mold and mildew, but cold can be even more damaging. Water seeps into furniture and when the temperature drops, it freezes and expands, breaking the strands.

You won't be using it in the winter anyway, so you'll want to keep it inside in a dry place for protection. Put it in a garage or shed if you have the space. At least put it under a good quality furniture cover. You can find more information on winter storage for your wicker furniture in our detailed guide. [Link to another article]

What are some other tips to extend the life of wicker furniture?

Winter storage and covering when not in use are the most important ways to protect your garden furniture. There are also some other simple maintenance tips to follow.

The most important thing is to keep the furniture clean. Spills or general dirt and grime can erode wicker and make it weak. You can prevent this by cleaning up spills right away and wiping down furniture quickly with a damp cloth from time to time. Also use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust. Do a deeper cleaning every 6 months.

If you have painted or stained and sealed it, reapply your chosen finish periodically to maintain protection.

final thoughts

Even with good care, wicker garden furniture will dry out over time. But don't worry, you don't have to replace it right away. As long as it's not too damaged, you can clean it and use natural oils to rehydrate it and benefit from it for a few more years. If you repeat this process every few years, there's no reason why your patio furniture can't last a decade or more.

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